Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device including: a display panel configured to display an image in units of a frame; an input sensor disposed on the display panel, and configured to sense an external input; a panel driver configured to control driving of the display panel in response to a synchronization signal; and a sensor controller configured to control driving of the input sensor, wherein the sensor controller receives the synchronization signal from the panel driver and outputs a plurality of transmission signals to the input sensor, and the plurality of transmission signals are varyingly generated based on the synchronization signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2021-0095734 filed on Jul. 21, 2021, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate a display device, and moreparticularly, to a display device whose display quality is increased.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

A display device is an output device for presentation of information invisual form. Various display devices are applied to a multimediaelectronic device such as a television, a tablet computer, a navigationsystem, or a game console. In addition to a general input device such asa button, a keyboard, or a mouse, an electronic device may include aninput sensor that senses a touch-based input, thereby allowing a user toenter information or commands easily and intuitively.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display device capableof reducing the degradation of display quality due to a noise comingfrom an input sensor.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a display deviceincludes: a display panel configured to display an image in units of aframe; an input sensor disposed on the display panel, and configured tosense an external input; a panel driver configured to control driving ofthe display panel in response to a synchronization signal; and a sensorcontroller configured to control driving of the input sensor, whereinthe sensor controller receives the synchronization signal from the paneldriver and outputs a plurality of transmission signals to the inputsensor, and the plurality of transmission signals are varyinglygenerated based on the synchronization signal.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a display deviceincludes: a display panel configured to display an image in units of aframe; an input sensor disposed on the display panel, and configured tosense an external input; a panel driver configured to control driving ofthe display panel in response to a vertical synchronization signal fordetermining a period of the frame and a horizontal synchronizationsignal for determining a scan timing of the display panel; and a sensorcontroller configured to control driving of the input sensor, whereinthe sensor controller receives the horizontal synchronization signalfrom the panel driver and outputs a plurality of transmission signals tothe input sensor, and the plurality of transmission signals are variedbased on the horizontal synchronization signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The above and other features of the present disclosure will becomeapparent by describing in detail embodiments thereof with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing an operation of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a display panel and a panel driveraccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an input sensor and a sensor controlleraccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram illustrating transmission signals accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating delay information stored in a storetable according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating delay information stored in a storetable according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9A is a waveform diagram illustrating delay signals according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9B is a waveform diagram illustrating transmission signalsaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10A is a waveform diagram illustrating delay signals according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10B is a waveform diagram illustrating transmission signalsaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a waveform diagram illustrating transmission signalsaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12A is a waveform diagram illustrating delay signals according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12B is a waveform diagram illustrating transmission signalsaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13A is a waveform diagram illustrating delay signals according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13B is a waveform diagram illustrating transmission signalsaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While the presentdisclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms,specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of examples in thedrawings and will herein be described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that there is no intent to limit the presentdisclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, thepresent disclosure is considered to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scopethereof.

Similar reference numerals may be used for similar components throughoutthis disclosure. In the accompanying drawings, the dimensions ofstructures may be illustrated as being enlarged for effectivedescription of embodiments of the present disclosure. Although the terms“first”, “second”, etc. may be used to describe various components, thecomponents should not be construed as being limited by the terms. Theterms are used to distinguish one component from another component. Forexample, a first component may be referred to as a second component, andsimilarly, the second component may be referred to as the firstcomponent. The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include theplural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presenceof stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof.

In the specification, it will be understood that when a portion of alayer, a film, an area, a plate, etc. is referred to as being “on” or“over” any other portion, it can be “directly on” the other portion oran intervening portion can be present therebetween. On the other hand,it will be understood that when a portion of a layer, a film, an area, aplate, etc. is referred to as being “under” or “below” any otherportion, it can be “directly under” the other portion or an interveningportion can be present therebetween. In addition, in the specification,the expression “disposed on” may include “disposed under” as well as“disposed on”.

In addition, in the specification, the expression “direct contact” maymean that an additional layer, film, region, plate, etc. are absentbetween a layer, film, area, plate, etc. and another element. Forexample, “directly contact” may mean that two layers or two members aredisposed without using an additional member, such as an adhesive member,between the layers or members.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a display device 1000 may be a device that isactivated by an electrical signal. For example, the display device 1000may be a rigid smartphone, a foldable smartphone, a notebook, atelevision, a tablet, a navigation system for a vehicle, a game console,or a wearable device, but is not particularly limited to any onethereof. The display device 1000 is illustrated in FIG. 1 by way ofexample as being a smartphone.

An active area AA and a peripheral area NAA may be provided in thedisplay device 1000. The display device 1000 may display an imagethrough the active area AA. The active area AA may include a surfaceextended along a first direction DR1 and a second direction DR2. Theperipheral area NAA may surround the active area AA.

A thickness direction of the display device 1000 may be parallel to athird direction DR3 intersecting the first direction DR1 and the seconddirection DR2. Accordingly, front surfaces (or upper surfaces) and backsurfaces (or lower surfaces) of members constituting the display device1000 may be described with respect to the third direction DR3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing an operation of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the display device 1000 may include a displaypanel 100, an input sensor 200, a panel driver 100C, a sensor controller200C, and a main controller 1000C.

The display panel 100 may be a component that substantially generates animage. The image generated through the display panel 100 may bedisplayed on a display surface FS of the display device 1000. Thedisplay panel 100 may be a light-emitting display panel. For example,the display panel 100 may be an organic light-emitting display panel, aninorganic light-emitting display panel, a quantum dot display panel, amicro-light emitting diode (LED) display panel, or a nano-LED displaypanel.

The input sensor 200 may be disposed on the display panel 100. The inputsensor 200 may sense an external input 2000 applied from the outside.The external input 2000 may include all input through an input meanscapable of providing a change in capacitance. For example, the inputsensor 200 may sense an input by an active-type input means (e.g., anactive pen, a stylus pen, or an electronic pen) sending and receiving asignal, as well as an input by a passive-type input means such as a body(e.g., a finger) of a user. In addition, the input sensor 200 may sensean approach of an object close to the display surface FS of the displaydevice 1000.

The main controller 1000C may control overall operations of the displaydevice 1000. For example, the main controller 1000C may controloperations of the panel driver 100C and the sensor controller 200C. Themain controller 1000C may include at least one microprocessor, and themain controller 1000C may be referred to as a “host”. The maincontroller 1000C may further include a graphics controller.

The panel driver 100C may drive the display panel 100. The panel driver100C may receive image data RGB and a display control signal D-CS fromthe main controller 1000C. The display control signal D-CS may includevarious control signals. For example, the display control signal D-CSmay include a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontalsynchronization signal, a main clock, a data enable signal, and thelike. The panel driver 100C may generate a scan control signal and adata control signal for controlling the driving of the display panel 100based on the display control signal D-CS.

The sensor controller 200C may control the driving of the input sensor200. The sensor controller 200C may receive a sensing control signalI-CS from the main controller 1000C. The main controller 1000C mayprovide the sensor controller 200C with some of the signals included inthe display control signal D-CS, for example, the verticalsynchronization signal and/or the horizontal synchronization signal, aswell as the sensing control signal I-CS. Alternatively, the panel driver100C may provide the sensor controller 200C with some of the signalsincluded in the display control signal D-CS received from the maincontroller 1000C, for example, the vertical synchronization signaland/or the horizontal synchronization signal.

The sensor controller 200C may calculate coordinate information of auser input based on a signal received from the input sensor 200 and mayprovide a coordinate signal I-SS including the coordinate information tothe main controller 1000C. The main controller 1000C executes anoperation corresponding to the user input based on the coordinate signalI-SS. For example, the main controller 1000C may drive the panel driver100C such that a new application image is displayed on the display panel100.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the display device 1000 may include the displaypanel 100 and the input sensor 200. The display panel 100 may include abase layer 110, a circuit layer 120, a light-emitting element layer 130,and an encapsulation layer 140. The base layer 110, the circuit layer120, the light-emitting element layer 130, and the encapsulation layer140 may be sequentially stacked.

The base layer 110 may be a member that provides a base surface on whichthe circuit layer 120 is disposed. The base layer 110 may include aglass material, a metal material, a polymer material, or the like.However, an embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto,and the base layer 110 may be an inorganic layer, an organic layer, or acomposite material layer.

The base layer 110 may have a multi-layered structure. For example, thebase layer 110 may include a first synthetic resin layer and a secondsynthetic resin layer disposed on the first synthetic resin layer. Eachof the first and second synthetic resin layers may includepolyimide-based resin. In addition, each of the first and secondsynthetic resin layers may include at least one of acrylate-based resin,methacrylate-based resin, polyisoprene-based resin, vinyl-based resin,epoxy-based resin, urethane-based resin, cellulose-based resin,siloxane-based resin, polyamide-based resin, and perylene-based resin.

The circuit layer 120 may be disposed on the base layer 110. The circuitlayer 120 may include an insulating layer, a semiconductor pattern, aconductive pattern, a signal line, and the like. An insulating layer, asemiconductor layer, and a conductive layer may be formed on the baselayer 110 by a coating or deposition process, and the insulating layer,the semiconductor layer, and the conductive layer may then beselectively patterned through a plurality of photolithography processes.Afterwards, the semiconductor pattern, the conductive pattern, and thesignal line included in the circuit layer 120 may be formed.

The light-emitting element layer 130 may be disposed on the circuitlayer 120. The light-emitting element layer 130 may include a pluralityof light-emitting elements. For example, the light-emitting elementlayer 130 may be an organic light-emitting material, an inorganiclight-emitting material, a quantum dot, a quantum rod, a micro LED, or anano LED.

The encapsulation layer 140 may be disposed on the light-emittingelement layer 130. The encapsulation layer 140 may protect thelight-emitting element layer 130 from foreign substances such asmoisture, oxygen, and dust particles. The encapsulation layer 140 may bein contact with the circuit layer 120 at sides of the light-emittingelement layer 130.

The input sensor 200 may be disposed on the display panel 100. The inputsensor 200 may sense the external input 2000 (refer to FIG. 2 ) appliedfrom the outside. The external input 2000 may be a user input. The userinput may include various types of external inputs such as a part of theuser's body, a light, heat, a pen, pressure, or the like.

The input sensor 200 may be formed on the display panel 100 throughsequential processes. In this case, the input sensor 200 may beexpressed as being directly disposed on the display panel 100. Theexpression “directly disposed” may mean that a third component is notinterposed between the input sensor 200 and the display panel 100. Inother words, a separate adhesive member may not be interposed betweenthe input sensor 200 and the display panel 100. Optionally, the inputsensor 200 may be coupled to the display panel 100 through an adhesivemember. The adhesive member may include a typical adhesive or a stickingagent.

The display device 1000 may further include an anti-reflection layer andan optical layer, which are disposed on the input sensor 200. Theanti-reflection layer may reduce the reflectance of an external lightincident from the outside of the display device 1000. The optical layermay increase the front luminance of the display device 1000 bycontrolling a direction of a light incident from the display panel 100.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3B, a display device 1001 may include a display panel101 and an input sensor 201. The display panel 101 may include a basesubstrate 111, a circuit layer 121, a light-emitting element layer 131,an encapsulation substrate 141, and a coupling member 151.

Each of the base substrate 111 and the encapsulation substrate 141 maybe a glass substrate, a metal substrate, a polymer substrate, or thelike, but is not particularly limited thereto.

The coupling member 151 may be interposed between the base substrate 111and the encapsulation substrate 141. For example, the coupling member151 may be provided directly between the encapsulation substrate 141 andthe circuit layer 121. The coupling member 151 may couple theencapsulation substrate 141 to the base substrate 111 or the circuitlayer 121. The coupling member 151 may include an inorganic material oran organic material. For example, the inorganic material may include afrit seal, and the organic material may include a photo-curable resin ora photo-plastic resin. However, a material of the coupling member 151 isnot limited to the above example.

The input sensor 201 may be directly disposed on the encapsulationsubstrate 141. The expression “directly disposed” may mean that a thirdcomponent is not interposed between the input sensor 201 and theencapsulation substrate 141. In other words, a separate adhesive membermay not be interposed between the input sensor 201 and the display panel101. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and anadhesive layer may be further interposed between the input sensor 201and the encapsulation substrate 141.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4 , at least one inorganic layer may be formed on anupper surface of the base layer 110. The inorganic layer may include atleast one of aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, silicon oxide, siliconnitride, silicon oxynitride, zirconium oxide, and hafnium oxide. Theinorganic layer may be formed of multiple layers. The multiple inorganiclayers may constitute a barrier layer and/or a buffer layer. In thisembodiment, the display panel 100 is illustrated as including a bufferlayer BFL.

The buffer layer BFL may improve a bonding force between the base layer110 and a semiconductor pattern. The buffer layer BFL may include atleast one of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and silicon oxynitride. Forexample, the buffer layer BFL may include a structure in which a siliconoxide layer and a silicon nitride layer are stacked alternately.

The semiconductor pattern may be disposed on the buffer layer BFL. Thesemiconductor pattern may include polysilicon. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto, and the semiconductor pattern mayinclude amorphous silicon, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon, oroxide semiconductor.

FIG. 4 only illustrates a portion of the semiconductor pattern, and thesemiconductor pattern may be further disposed in another area.Semiconductor patterns may be arranged across pixels in a specific rule.An electrical property of the semiconductor pattern may vary dependingon whether it is doped or not. The semiconductor pattern may include afirst area having high conductivity and a second area having lowconductivity. The first area may be doped with an N-type dopant or aP-type dopant. A P-type transistor may include a doping area doped withthe P-type dopant, and an N-type transistor may include a doping areadoped with the N-type dopant. The second area may be a non-doping areaor may be an area doped with a concentration lower than the first area.

The conductivity of the first area may be greater than the conductivityof the second area, and the first area may serve as an electrode or asignal line. The second area may correspond to an active (or channel) ofa transistor. In other words, a portion of the semiconductor pattern maybe an active of a transistor, another portion of the semiconductorpattern may be a source or a drain of the transistor, and anotherportion of the semiconductor pattern may be a connection electrode or aconnection signal line.

Each of pixels may be expressed by an equivalent circuit including seventransistors, one capacitor, and a light-emitting element ED, and theequivalent circuit of the pixel may be modified in various forms. Onetransistor TR and one light-emitting element ED included in a pixel areillustrated in FIG. 4 by way of example.

A source SC, an active AL, and a drain DR of the transistor TR may formfrom the semiconductor pattern. The source SC and the drain DR mayextend from the active AL in directions facing away from each other whenviewed from the second direction DR2. In other words, the source SC andthe drain DR may be connected to the active AL. A portion of aconnection signal wire SCL formed from the semiconductor pattern isillustrated in FIG. 4 . The connection signal wire SCL may be connectedto the drain DR of the transistor TR in a plan view.

A first insulating layer 10 may be disposed on the buffer layer BFL. Thefirst insulating layer 10 may overlap a plurality of pixels in commonand may cover the semiconductor pattern. The first insulating layer 10may be an inorganic layer and/or an organic layer, and may have asingle-layer or multilayer structure. The first insulating layer 10 mayinclude at least one of aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, silicon oxide,silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, zirconium oxide, and hafnium oxide.In this embodiment, the first insulating layer 10 may be a singlesilicon oxide layer. As well as the first insulating layer 10, each ofinsulating layers of the circuit layer 120 to be described later may bean inorganic layer and/or an organic layer, and may have a single-layeror multilayer structure. The inorganic layer may include at least one ofthe materials described above but is not limited thereto.

A gate GT of the transistor TR is disposed on the first insulating layer10. The gate GT may be a portion of a metal pattern. The gate GToverlaps the active AL. The gate GT may function as a mask in theprocess of doping the semiconductor pattern.

A second insulating layer 20 may be disposed on the first insulatinglayer 10 and may cover the gate GT. The second insulating layer 20 mayoverlap the pixels in common. The second insulating layer 20 may be aninorganic layer and/or an organic layer, and may have a single-layer ormultilayer structure. The second insulating layer 20 may include atleast one of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and silicon oxynitride. Inthis embodiment, the second insulating layer 20 may have a multilayerstructure including a silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer.

A third insulating layer 30 may be disposed on the second insulatinglayer 20. The third insulating layer 30 may have a single-layer ormultilayer structure. For example, the third insulating layer 30 mayhave a multilayer structure including a silicon oxide layer and asilicon nitride layer.

A first connection electrode CNE1 may be disposed on the thirdinsulating layer 30. The first connection electrode CNE1 may beconnected to the connection signal wire SCL through a first contact holeCNT1 penetrating the first, second, and third insulating layers 10, 20,and 30.

A fourth insulating layer 40 may be disposed on the third insulatinglayer 30. The fourth insulating layer 40 may be a single silicon oxidelayer. A fifth insulating layer 50 may be disposed on the fourthinsulating layer 40. The fifth insulating layer 50 may be an organiclayer.

A second connection electrode CNE2 may be disposed on the fifthinsulating layer 50. The second connection electrode CNE2 may beconnected to the first connection electrode CNE1 through a secondcontact hole CNT2 penetrating the fourth insulating layer 40 and thefifth insulating layer 50. The second contact hole CNT2 may coincidewith the first contact hole CNT1.

A sixth insulating layer 60 may be disposed on the fifth insulatinglayer 50 and may cover the second connection electrode CNE2. The sixthinsulating layer 60 may be an organic layer.

The light-emitting element layer 130 may be disposed on the circuitlayer 120. The light-emitting element layer 130 may include thelight-emitting element ED. For example, the light-emitting element layer130 may be an organic light-emitting material, an inorganiclight-emitting material, a quantum dot, a quantum rod, a micro LED, or anano LED. Below, the description will be given under the condition thatthe light-emitting element ED is an organic light-emitting element, butthe present disclosure is not particularly limited thereto.

The light-emitting element ED may include a first electrode AE, anemission layer EL, and a second electrode CE.

The first electrode AE may be disposed on the sixth insulating layer 60.The first electrode AE may extend along an upper surface of the sixthinsulating layer 60. The first electrode AE may be connected to thesecond connection electrode CNE2 through a third contact hole CNT3penetrating the sixth insulating layer 60. The third contact hole CNT3may coincide with the second contact hole CNT2.

A pixel defining layer 70 may be disposed on the sixth insulating layer60 and may cover a portion of the first electrode AE. An opening 70-OPis defined in the pixel defining layer 70. The opening 70-OP of thepixel defining layer 70 exposes at least a portion of the firstelectrode AE.

The active area AA (refer to FIG. 1 ) may include an emission area PXAand a non-emission area NPXA adjacent to the emission area PXA. Thenon-emission area NPXA may surround the emission area PXA. In thisembodiment, the emission area PXA corresponds to a partial area of thefirst electrode AE, which is exposed by the opening 70-OP.

The emission layer EL may be disposed on the first electrode AE. Theemission layer EL may be disposed in an area formed by the opening70-OP. In other words, the emission layer EL may be independentlydisposed for each pixel. In the case where a plurality of emissionlayers EL are independently formed for respective pixels, each of theplurality of emission layers EL may emit a light of at least one of ablue color, a red color, and a green color. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the plurality ofemission layers EL may be connected to each other to be provided incommon to the plurality of pixels. In this case, the emission layer ELthat is provided in common to the plurality of pixels may provide a bluelight or may provide a white light.

The second electrode CE may be disposed on the emission layer EL. Thesecond electrode CE may include a plurality of second electrodes CE tobe independently formed for each pixel. Alternatively, the plurality ofsecond electrodes CE may be connected to each other to be disposed incommon in the plurality of pixels.

A hole control layer may be interposed between the first electrode AEand the emission layer EL. The hole control layer may be disposed incommon in the emission area PXA and the non-emission area NPXA. The holecontrol layer may include a hole transport layer and may further includea hole injection layer. An electron control layer may be interposedbetween the emission layer EL and the second electrode CE. The electroncontrol layer may include an electron transport layer and may furtherinclude an electron injection layer. The hole control layer and theelectron control layer may be formed in common in a plurality of pixelsby using an open mask.

The encapsulation layer 140 may be disposed on the light-emittingelement layer 130. The encapsulation layer 140 may include an inorganiclayer, an organic layer, and an inorganic layer sequentially stacked,and layers constituting the encapsulation layer 140 are not limitedthereto.

The inorganic layers may protect the light-emitting element layer 130from moisture and oxygen, and the organic layer may protect thelight-emitting element layer 130 from a foreign material such as dustparticles. The inorganic layers may include a silicon nitride layer, asilicon oxynitride layer, a silicon oxide layer, a titanium oxide layer,an aluminum oxide layer, or the like. The organic layer may include, butis not limited to, an acrylic-based organic layer.

The input sensor 200 may include a base insulating layer 210, a firstconductive layer 220, a sensing insulating layer 230, a secondconductive layer 240, and a cover insulating layer 250.

The base insulating layer 210 may be an inorganic layer including atleast one of silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, and silicon oxide.Alternatively, the base insulating layer 210 may be an organic layerincluding an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin, or an imide-based resin. Thebase insulating layer 210 may have a single-layer structure or may be amultilayer structure in which a plurality of layers are stacked alongthe third direction DR3.

Each of the first conductive layer 220 and the second conductive layer240 may have a single-layer structure or may have a multilayer structurein which a plurality of layers are stacked along the third directionDR3.

A conductive layer of a single-layer structure may include a metal layeror a transparent conductive layer. The metal layer may includemolybdenum, silver, titanium, copper, aluminum, or an alloy thereof. Thetransparent conductive layer may include transparent conductive oxidesuch as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide(ZnO), or indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO). In addition, the transparentconductive layer may include conductive polymer such as PEDOT, metalnanowire, graphene, or the like.

A conductive layer of a multilayer structure may include metal layers.The metal layers may have, for example, a three-layer structure oftitanium/aluminum/titanium. The conductive layer of the multilayerstructure may include at least one metal layer and at least onetransparent conductive layer.

At least one of the sensing insulating layer 230 and the coverinsulating layer 250 may include an inorganic layer. The inorganic layermay include at least one of aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, siliconoxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, zirconium oxide, and hafniumoxide.

At least one of the sensing insulating layer 230 and the coverinsulating layer 250 may include an organic layer. The organic layer mayinclude at least one of acrylate-based resin, methacrylate-based resin,polyisoprene-based resin, vinyl-based resin, epoxy-based resin,urethane-based resin, cellulose-based resin, siloxane-based resin,polyimide-based resin, polyamide-based resin, and perylene-based resin.

A parasitic capacitance Cb may be present between the input sensor 200and the second electrode CE. The parasitic capacitance Cb may also bereferred to as a “base capacitance”. As a distance between the inputsensor 200 and the second electrode CE decreases, a value of theparasitic capacitance Cb may become greater. As the value of theparasitic capacitance Cb becomes greater, the signal interferencebetween the input sensor 200 and the display panel 100 may increase.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a display panel and a panel driveraccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the display panel 100 may include a plurality ofscan lines SL1 to SLn (e.g., SL1, SL2, . . . . SLn−1, SLn), a pluralityof data lines DL1 to DLm (e.g., DL1, DL2, . . . DLm), and a plurality ofpixels PX. Each of the plurality of pixels PX is connected with acorresponding data line of the plurality of data lines DL1 to DLm andmay be connected with a corresponding scan line of the plurality of scanlines SL1 to SLn. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay panel 100 may further include emission control lines, and thepanel driver 100C may further include an emission driving circuit thatprovides control signals to the emission control lines. A configurationof the display panel 100 is not particularly limited.

Each of the plurality of scan lines SL1 to SLn may extend in the firstdirection DR1, and the plurality of scan lines SL1 to SLn may bearranged to be spaced from each other in the second direction DR2. Eachof the plurality of data lines DL1 to DLm may extend in the seconddirection DR2, and the plurality of data lines DL1 to DLm may bearranged to be spaced from each other in the first direction DR1.

The panel driver 100C may include a signal control circuit 100C1, a scandriving circuit 100C2, and a data driving circuit 100C3.

The signal control circuit 100C1 may receive the image data RGB and thedisplay control signal D-CS from the main controller 1000C (refer toFIG. 2 ). The display control signal D-CS may include various controlsignals. For example, the display control signal D-CS may include avertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, amain clock, a data enable signal, and the like.

The signal control circuit 100C1 may generate a scan control signalCONT1 based on the display control signal D-CS and may output the scancontrol signal CONT1 to the scan driving circuit 100C2. The scan controlsignal CONT1 may include a vertical start signal, a clock signal, andthe like. The signal control circuit 100C1 may generate a data controlsignal CONT2 based on the display control signal D-CS and may output thedata control signal CONT2 to the data driving circuit 100C3. The datacontrol signal CONT2 may include a horizontal start signal, an outputenable signal, and the like.

In addition, the signal control circuit 100C 1 may output a data signalDS, which is obtained by processing the image data RGB to comply with anoperating condition of the display panel 100, to the data drivingcircuit 100C3. The scan control signal CONT1 and the data control signalCONT2 that are signals necessary for operations of the scan drivingcircuit 100C2 and the data driving circuit 100C3 are not specificallylimited.

The scan driving circuit 100C2 drives the plurality of scan lines SL1 toSLn in response to the scan control signal CONT1. In an embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the scan driving circuit 100C2 may be formed inthe same process as the circuit layer 120 (refer to FIG. 4) in thedisplay panel 100, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.Optionally, the scan driving circuit 100C2 may be implemented with anintegrated circuit (IC), for electrical connection with the displaypanel 100. In this case, the integrated circuit may be directly mountedin a given area of the display panel 100 or may be mounted on a separateprinted circuit board in a chip on film (COF) manner.

The data driving circuit 100C3 may output gray scale voltages to theplurality of data lines DL1 to DLm in response to the data controlsignal CONT2 and the data signal DS from the signal control circuit100C1. The data driving circuit 100C3 may be implemented with anintegrated circuit for electrical connection with the display panel 100.Here, the integrated circuit may be directly mounted in a given area ofthe display panel 100 or may be mounted on a separate printed circuitboard in the chip on film manner. Optionally, the data driving circuit100C3 may be formed in the same process as the circuit layer 120 (referto FIG. 4 ) in the display panel 100.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an input sensor and a sensor controlleraccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the input sensor 200 may include a plurality oftransmission electrodes TE1, TE2, TE3, TE4, TE5 and TE6 and a pluralityof reception electrodes RE1, RE2, RE3 and RE4. The plurality oftransmission electrodes TE1 to TE6 may extend in the first direction DR1and may be arranged in the second direction DR2. In an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the transmission electrodes TE1 to TE6 may extendalong the scan lines SL1 to SLn (refer to FIG. 5 ). The plurality ofreception electrodes RE1 to RE4 may extend in the second direction DR2and may be arranged in the first direction DR1. The plurality oftransmission electrodes TE1 to TE6 and the plurality of receptionelectrodes RE1 to RE4 may cross each other. A capacitance may be formedbetween the plurality of transmission electrodes TE1 to TE6 and theplurality of reception electrodes RE1 to RE4. For convenience ofdescription, six transmission electrodes TE1 to TE6 and four receptionelectrodes RE1 to RE4 are illustrated in FIG. 6 , but the number oftransmission electrodes TE1 to TE6 and the number of receptionelectrodes RE1 to RE4 are not particularly limited thereto.

The input sensor 200 may further include a plurality of first signallines connected to the plurality of transmission electrodes TE1 to TE6and a plurality of second signal lines connected to the plurality ofreception electrodes RE1 to RE4.

Each of the plurality of transmission electrodes TE1 to TE6 may includea first sensing portion 211 and a connection portion 212. The connectionportion 212 may connect two adjacent first sensing portions 211 to eachother. The first sensing portion 211 and the connection portion 212 mayhave an integrated shape and may be disposed in the same layer. Forexample, the first sensing portion 211 and the connection portion 212may be included in the second conductive layer 240 (refer to FIG. 4 ).Alternatively, the first sensing portion 211 and the connection portion212 may be included in the first conductive layer 220 (refer to FIG. 4).

Each of the plurality of reception electrodes RE1 to RE4 may include asecond sensing portion 221 and a bridge portion 222. The second sensingportions 221 adjacent to each other may be electrically connected by thebridge portion 222, but the present disclosure is not particularlylimited thereto. The second sensing portion 221 and the bridge portion222 may be disposed in different layers. For example, the second sensingportion 221 may be included in the second conductive layer 240, and thebridge portion 222 may be included in the first conductive layer 220.Alternatively, the second sensing portion 221 may be included in thefirst conductive layer 220, and the bridge portion 222 may be includedin the second conductive layer 240.

The bridge portion 222 may be insulated from the connection portion 212and may intersect the connection portion 212. When the first and secondsensing portions 211 and 221 and the connection portion 212 are includedin the second conductive layer 240, the bridge portion 222 may beincluded in the first conductive layer 220. Alternatively, when thefirst and second sensing portions 211 and 221 and the connection portion212 are included in the first conductive layer 220, the bridge portion222 may be included in the second conductive layer 240.

Each of the plurality of transmission electrodes TE1 to TE6 may have amesh shape, and each of the plurality of reception electrodes RE1 to RE4may have a mesh shape.

The sensor controller 200C may receive the sensing control signal i-CSfrom the main controller 1000C (refer to FIG. 2 ) and may provide thecoordinate signal I-SS to the main controller 1000C. The sensorcontroller 200C may be implemented with an integrated circuit (IC), forelectrical connection with the input sensor 200. Here, the integratedcircuit may be directly mounted in a given area of the input sensor 200or the display panel 100 or may be mounted on a separate printed circuitboard in the chip on film manner.

The sensor controller 200C may include a sensor control circuit 200C1, asignal generating circuit 200C2, and an input detecting circuit 200C3.The sensor control circuit 200C1 may receive a synchronization signalfrom the main controller 1000C or the signal control circuit 100C1. Thesensor control circuit 200C1 may control operations of the signalgenerating circuit 200C2 and the input detecting circuit 200C3 based onthe sensing control signal I-CS and the synchronization signal. In anembodiment of the present disclosure, the synchronization signal mayinclude a vertical synchronization signal Vsync and a horizontalsynchronization signal Hsync. Alternatively, the synchronization signalmay include only one (e.g., the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync)of the vertical synchronization signal Vsync and the horizontalsynchronization signal Hsync.

The signal generating circuit 200C2 may output transmission signals TSto the transmission electrodes TE1 to TE6 of the input sensor 200. Theinput detecting circuit 200C3 may receive sensing signals SS from thereception electrodes RE1 to RE4 of the input sensor 200. The inputdetecting circuit 200C3 may convert an analog signal into a digitalsignal. For example, the input detecting circuit 200C3 may performamplification and filtering on the sensing signals SS of an analog formthus received and may convert a signal(s) that has undergone theamplification and filtering into a digital signal(s).

The sensor control circuit 200C1 may generate the coordinate signal I-SSbased on the digital signal received from the input detecting circuit200C3. For example, when the external input 2000 (refer to FIG. 2 )(e.g., a touch input) by a finger of the user is sensed, the sensorcontrol circuit 200C1 may generate the coordinate signal I-SS includinginformation about coordinates, at which the touch input is made, byusing the above digital signal.

FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram illustrating transmission signals accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8A is a diagramillustrating delay information stored in a store table according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8B is a diagram illustratingdelay information stored in a store table according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7 , the display device 1000 displays an imagethrough the display panel 100. A time unit by which the display panel100 displays an image may be referred to as a “frame”. When an operatingfrequency of the display panel 100 is 60 Hz, 60 frames may be displayedper second, and a time corresponding to each frame may be about 16.67ms. When an operating frequency of the display panel 100 is 120 Hz, 120frames may be displayed per second, and a time corresponding to eachframe may be about 8.3 ms. A period of each of the frames may bedetermined by the vertical synchronization signal Vsync. For convenienceof description, four frames (hereinafter referred to as “first to fourthframes DF1 to DF4”) of the frames are illustrated in FIG. 7 .

After each of the frames DF1 to DF4 starts, a time at which a scansignal is actually applied to the scan lines SL1 to SLn of the displaypanel 100 (e.g., a scan timing of the display panel 100) may bedetermined by the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync. For example,in each of the frames DF1 to DF4, after the vertical synchronizationsignal Vsync is activated, a scan signal may be applied to the scanlines SL1 to SLn from a time at which the horizontal synchronizationsignal Hsync is first activated.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the sensor controller 200C may drive theinput sensor 200. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, anoperating frequency of the input sensor 200 may be identical to anoperating frequency of the display panel 100. For example, when theoperating frequency of the display panel 100 is 60 Hz, the operatingfrequency of the input sensor 200 may also be 60 Hz, when the operatingfrequency of the display panel 100 is 120 Hz, the operating frequency ofthe input sensor 200 may also be 120 Hz. It is to be understood,however, that the operating frequencies of the display panel 100 and theinput sensor 200 may be different.

The transmission signals TS may be output to the transmission electrodesTE1 to TE6 (hereinafter referred to as “first to sixth transmissionelectrodes TE1 to TE6”), respectively. Here, the transmission signals TSmay include first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 (e.g., TS1,TS2, TS3, TS4, TS5 and TS6) that are respectively output to the first tosixth transmission electrodes TE1 to TE6. The first to sixthtransmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be randomly (or varyingly) output(or generated) based on a synchronization signal (e.g., the horizontalsynchronization signal Hsync).

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first to sixthtransmission signals TS to TS6 may be simultaneously output from thesensor controller 200C at the same point in time. When a time at whichthe first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 are simultaneouslyoutput is referred to as an output point in time t1, a time intervalbetween an activation start point in time t0 of the horizontalsynchronization signal Hsync and the output point in time t1 may berandomly varied.

For example, in the first frame DF1, the activation start point in timet0 and the output point in time t1 are spaced from each other as much asa first time interval d1. In the second frame DF2, the activation startpoint in time t0 and the output point in time t1 are spaced from eachother as much as a second time interval d2. The first time interval d1may be different from the second time interval d2. For example, thesecond time interval d2 may be greater than the first time interval d1.In the third frame DF3, the activation start point in time t0 and theoutput point in time t1 are spaced from each other as much as a thirdtime interval d3, and the third time interval d3 may be different fromthe first and second time intervals d1 and d2. For example, the thirdtime interval d3 may be less than each of the first and second timeintervals d1 and d2. In the fourth frame DF4, the activation start pointin time t0 and the output point in time t1 are spaced from each other asmuch as a fourth time interval d4, and the fourth time interval d4 maybe different from the first, second, and third time intervals d1, d2,and d3. For example, the fourth time interval d4 may be greater thaneach of the first, second and third time intervals d1, d2 and d3.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a time interval between theactivation start point in time 10 and the output point in time t1 may berandomly varied between the first to fourth time intervals d1, d2, d3,and d4. Each of the first to fourth time intervals d1, d2, d3, and d4may have one value in a given reference range. For example, when thereference range is from 0.1 μs to 0.8 μs, each of the first to fourthtime intervals d1, d2, d3, and d4 may have one of values belonging tothe range from 0.1 μs to 0.8 μs.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first time interval d1may have a value of 0.3 μs, the second time interval d2 may have a valueof 0.5 μs, the third time interval d3 may have a value of 0.1 μs, andthe fourth time interval d4 may have a value of 0.7 μs. The first tofourth time intervals d1, d2, d3, and d4 may be determined by a delaysignal DEL. For example, duration of an activation period AP of thedelay signal DEL may correspond to length of the first to fourth timeintervals d1, d2, d3 and d4.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 7, and 8A, delay information that is used to delaythe transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be stored in advance in a storeor lookup table LUT1. The store table LUT1 may be a component includedin the sensor controller 200C or may be a component included in the maincontroller 1000C. When the store table LUT1 is stored in the sensorcontroller 200C, the sensor controller 200C may generate the delaysignal DEL based on the delay information stored in advance in the storetable LUT1. In this case, the sensor controller 200C may randomly varythe output point in time t1 of the transmission signals TS1 to TS6 everyframe, based on the delay signal DEL and the horizontal synchronizationsignal Hsync.

When the store table LUT1 is stored in the main controller 1000C, themain controller 1000C may generate the delay signal DEL based on thedelay information stored in advance in the store table LUT1. The delaysignal DEL thus generated may be provided to the sensor controller 200C.The delay signal DEL may be a signal included in the sensing controlsignal I-CS.

The duration of the activation period AP of the delay signal DEL mayvary depending on bit information of the delay information. In anembodiment of the present disclosure, the delay information may becomposed of 2-bit data. When the bit information is “00”, the activationperiod AP of the delay signal DEL may have duration of 0.1 μs, when thebit information is “0l”, the activation period AP of the delay signalDEL may have duration of 0.3 μs, when the bit information is “10”, theactivation period AP of the delay signal DEL may have duration of 0.5μs, and when the bit information is “11”, the activation period AP ofthe delay signal DEL may have duration of 0.7 μs. When the delayinformation is composed of 2-bit data, the activation period AP of thedelay signal DEL may be randomly varied to correspond to one of fourdurations.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8B, the delay information stored in astore table LUT2 may be composed of 3-bit data. When the bit informationis “000”, the activation period AP of the delay signal DEL may haveduration of 0.1 μs, when the bit information is “001”, the activationperiod AP of the delay signal DEL may have duration of 0.2 μs, and whenthe bit information is “010”, the activation period AP of the delaysignal DEL may have duration of 0.3 μs. In addition, when the bitinformation is “011”, the activation period AP of the delay signal DELmay have duration of 0.4 μs, when the bit information is “100”, theactivation period AP of the delay signal DEL may have duration of 0.5μs, when the bit information is “101”, the activation period AP of thedelay signal DEL may have duration of 0.6 μs, when the bit informationis “110”, the activation period AP of the delay signal DEL may haveduration of 0.7 μs, and when the bit information is “111”, theactivation period AP of the delay signal DEL may have duration of 0.8μs. When the delay information is composed of 3-bit data, the activationperiod AP of the delay signal DEL may be randomly varied to correspondto one of eight durations.

The number of data bits of the delay information is not particularlylimited, and the duration corresponding to each bit information is notparticularly limited.

Each of the transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be output from theoutput point in time t1 that is delayed with respect to the activationstart point in time t0 of the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync asmuch as the activation period AP of the delay signal DEL. Because theduration of the activation period AP of the delay signal DEL is set tobe randomly varied for each frame, a time interval between theactivation start point in time t0 of the horizontal synchronizationsignal Hsync and the output point in time t1 may also be randomly variedfor each frame.

Accordingly, a noise due to the interference between scan signals beingsupplied to the display panel 100 and the transmission signals TS1 toTS6 being supplied to the input sensor 200 may be prevented fromoccurring on a screen of the display device 1000 or may decrease. Inaddition, even though the noise occurs, a position at which the noiseoccurs may also be randomly shifted by randomly changing the above timeinterval. Accordingly, as the position at which the noise occurs israndomly shifted, the phenomenon that a flicker is viewed by a user'seyes may be prevented. Further, a period by which a time interval isvaried may not be limited to one frame. For example, a time interval maybe randomly varied in units of two frames or in units of three frames.

The description is given with reference to FIG. 7 as the output point intime t1 is randomly varied based on the horizontal synchronizationsignal Hsync, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Forexample, the output point in time t1 may be randomly varied based on thevertical synchronization signal Vsync. However, because the horizontalsynchronization signal Hsync interworks with an output point in time ofscan signals, it may be more effective to randomly vary the output pointin time t1 of the transmission signals TS1 to TS6 based on thehorizontal synchronization signal Hsync, rather than the verticalsynchronization signal Vsync, in terms of preventing a flickerphenomenon.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the display device1000 may include: a display panel 100 configured to display an image inunits of a frame (e.g., DF1 to DF4); an input sensor 200 disposed on thedisplay panel 100, and configured to sense an external input 2000; apanel driver 100C configured to control driving of the display panel 100in response to a synchronization signal (e.g., Hsync); and a sensorcontroller 200C configured to control driving of the input sensor 200,wherein the sensor controller 200C receives the synchronization signal(e.g., Hsync) from the panel driver 100C and outputs a plurality oftransmission signals (e.g., TS1 to TS4) to the input sensor 200, and theplurality of transmission signals (e.g., TS1 to TS4) are varyinglygenerated based on the synchronization signal (e.g., Hsync).

FIG. 9A is a waveform diagram illustrating delay signals according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 9B is a waveform diagramillustrating transmission signals according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 9A, and 9B, the transmission signals TS mayinclude the first to sixth transmission signals TS) to TS6 that arerespectively output to the first to sixth transmission electrodes TE1 toTE6. The first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be randomly(or varyingly) output (or generated) based on a synchronization signal(e.g., the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync).

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first to sixthtransmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be output from the sensor controller200C at different points in time. In other words, the first to sixthtransmission signals TS1 to TS6 may not be simultaneously output. Ineach frame, a point in time when the first transmission signal TS1 isoutput may be referred to as a first output point in time t1_1, a pointin time when the second transmission signal TS2 is output may bereferred to as a second output point in time t1_2, a point in time whenthe third transmission signal TS3 is output may be referred to as athird output point in time t1_3, and so forth. In other words, in eachframe, the first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may berespectively output at first to sixth output points in time t1_1 tot1_6. At least two of the first to sixth output points in time t1_1 tot1_6 may be placed at different points on a time axis.

A time interval between the activation start point in time t0 of thehorizontal synchronization signal Hsync and the first output point intime t1_1 of the first transmission signal TS1 may be randomly varied.For example, in the first frame DF1, the activation start point in timet0 and the first output point in time t1_1 are spaced from each other asmuch as the first time interval d1. In the second frame DF2, theactivation start point in time t0 and the first output point in timet1_1 are spaced from each other as much as the second time interval d2.The first time interval d1 may be different from the second timeinterval d2. For example, the second time interval d2 may be greaterthan the first time interval d1. In the third frame DF3, the activationstart point in time t0 and the first output point in time t1_1 arespaced from each other as much as the third time interval d3, and thethird time interval d3 may be different from the first and second timeintervals d1 and d2. For example, the third time interval d3 may besmaller than each of the first and second time intervals d1 and d2. Inthe fourth frame DF4, the activation start point in time t0 and thefirst output point in time t1_1 are spaced from each other as much asthe fourth time interval d4, and the fourth time interval d4 may bedifferent from the first, second, and third time intervals d1, d2, andd3. For example, the fourth time interval d4 may be longer than each ofthe first, second, and third time intervals d1, d2, and d3.

A time interval between the activation start point in time t0 of thehorizontal synchronization signal Hsync and the second output point intime t1_2 of the second transmission signal TS2 may be randomly varied.For example, in the first frame DF1, the activation start point in timet0 and the second output point in time t1_2 are spaced from each otheras much as a fifth time interval d5. In the second frame DF2, theactivation start point in time to and the second output point in timet1_2 are spaced from each other as much as a sixth time interval d6. Thefifth time interval d5 may be different from the sixth time interval d6.In addition, the fifth time interval d5 may be different from the firsttime interval d1, and the sixth time interval d6 may be different fromthe second time interval d2. In the third frame DF3, the activationstart point in time t0 and the second output point in time t1_2 arespaced from each other as much as a seventh time interval d7, and theseventh time interval d7 may be different from the fifth and sixth timeintervals d5 and d6. In the fourth frame DF4, the activation start pointin time t0 and the second output point in time t1_2 are spaced from eachother as much as an eighth time interval d8, and the eighth timeinterval d8 may be different from the fifth, sixth, and seventh timeintervals d5, d6, and d7. In addition, the seventh time interval d7 maybe different from the third time interval d3, and the eighth timeinterval d8 may be different from the fourth time interval d4.

In FIG. 7 , the output points in time t1 of the first to sixthtransmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be varied simultaneously randomly,however, in FIG. 9B, the output points in time t1_1 to t1_6 of the firstto sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be varied individuallyrandomly. It may be more effective to randomly vary the output points intime t1_1 to t1_6 of the first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6independently of each other, in terms of the reduction of noise.

However, to control the output points in time t1_1 to t1_6 of the firstto sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 independently of each other,the sensor controller 200C may require first to sixth delay signals DEL1to DEL6 respectively associated with the first to sixth transmissionsignals TS1 to TS6. In other words, the first output point in time t1_1of the first transmission signal TS1 may be determined by the firstdelay signal DEL1, the second output point in time t1_2 of the secondtransmission signal TS2 may be determined by the second delay signalDEL2, the third output point in time t1_3 of the third transmissionsignal TS3 may be determined by the third delay signal DEL3, and soforth.

A duration of each of activation periods AP1 to AP6 of the first tosixth delay signals DEL1 to DEL6 may be randomly varied in units of aframe. The duration of each of the activation periods AP1 to AP6 of thefirst to sixth delay signals DEL1 to DEL6 may be varied depending on thebit information of the delay information illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B.When the delay information is composed of 2-bit data, the duration ofeach of the activation periods AP1 to AP6 of the first to sixth delaysignals DEL1 to DEL6 may be randomly varied to correspond to one of fourdurations. When the delay information is composed of 3-bit data, theduration of each of the activation periods AP1 to AP6 of the first tosixth delay signals DEL1 to DEL6 may be randomly varied to correspond toone of eight durations.

FIG. 10A is a waveform diagram illustrating delay signals according toan embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 10B is a waveformdiagram illustrating transmission signals according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 10A, and 10B, the transmission signals TS mayinclude the first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 that arerespectively output to the first to sixth transmission electrodes TE1 toTE6. The first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be randomly(or varyingly) output (or generated) based on a synchronization signal(e.g., the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync).

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least two of the first tosixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be output from the sensorcontroller 200C′ at different points in time. In each frame, the firstto sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be classified into at leasttwo groups, and transmission signals belonging to different groups maybe output at different points in time. In addition, transmission signalsbelonging to the same group may be output at the same point in time.

For example, the first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may beclassified into three groups, and each group may include twotransmission signals. In each frame, the first and second transmissionsignals TS1 and TS2 may be output at a first output point in time t2_1,the third and fourth transmission signals TS3 and TS4 may be output at asecond output point in time t2_2, and the fifth and sixth transmissionsignals TS5 and TS6 may be output at a third output point in time t2.3.However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, thefirst and fourth transmission signals TS1 and TS4 may be output at thefirst output point in time t2_1, the second and fifth transmissionsignals TS2 and TS5 may be output at the second output point in timet2_2, the third and sixth transmission signals TS3 and TS6 may be outputat the third output point in time t2_3. In addition, the number oftransmission signals to be included in each group may be variouslyvaried. For example, three transmission signals may be provided in agroup.

A time interval between the activation start point in time t0 of thehorizontal synchronization signal Hsync and the first output point intime t2_1 of the first and second transmission signals TS1 and TS2 maybe randomly varied. For example, in the first frame DF1, the activationstart point in time t0 and the first output point in time t2_1 arespaced from each other as much as the first time interval d1. In thesecond frame DF2, the activation start point in time t0 and the firstoutput point in time t2_1 are spaced from each other as much as thesecond time interval d2. The first time interval d1 may be differentfrom the second time interval d2. In 20 the third frame DF3, theactivation start point in time t0 and the first output point in timet2_1 are spaced from each other as much as the third time interval d3,and the third time interval d3 may be different from the first andsecond time intervals d1 and d2. In the fourth frame DF4, the activationstart point in time t0 and the first output point in time t2_1 arespaced from each other as much as the fourth time interval d4, and thefourth time interval d4 may be different from the first, second, andthird time intervals d1, d2, and d3.

A time interval between the activation start point in time t0 of thehorizontal synchronization signal Hsync and the second output point intime t2_2 of the third and fourth transmission signals TS3 and TS4 maybe randomly varied. For example, in the first frame DF1, the activationstart point in time t0 and the second output point in time t2_2 arespaced from each other as much as the fifth time interval d5. In thesecond frame DF2, the activation start point in time t0 and the secondoutput point in time t2_2 are spaced from each other as much as thesixth time interval d6. The fifth time interval d5 may be different fromthe sixth time interval d6. In addition, the fifth time interval d5 maybe different from the first time interval d1, and the sixth timeinterval d6 may be different from the second time interval d2. In thethird frame DF3, the activation start point in time t0 and the secondoutput point in time t2_2 are spaced from each other as much as theseventh time interval d7, and the seventh time interval d7 may bedifferent from the fifth and sixth time intervals d5 and d6. In thefourth frame DF4, the activation start point in time t0 and the secondoutput point in time t2_2 are spaced from each other as much as theeighth time interval d8, and the eighth time interval d8 may bedifferent from the fifth, sixth, and seventh time intervals d5, d6, andd7. In addition, the seventh time interval d7 may be different from thethird time interval d3, and the eighth time interval d8 may be differentfrom the fourth time interval d4.

In FIG. 91 , the output points in time t1_1 to t1_6 of the first tosixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be varied randomlyindividually, however, in FIG. 10B, the first to sixth transmissionsignals TS1 to TS6 may be classified into a plurality of groups, andoutput points in time thereof may be varied randomly in units of agroup.

When the output points in time t2_1 to t2_3 are controlled in units of agroup, the sensor controller 200C may require delay signals DEL1 _(a) toDEL3 a, the number of which corresponds to the number of groups. Forexample, when the first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 areclassified into three groups, the sensor controller 200C may requirethree delay signals (e.g., the first to third delay signals DEL1 a, DEL2a, and DEL3 a). In this case, the first delay signal DEL1 a maydetermine the first output point in time t2_1 of the first and secondtransmission signals TS1 and TS2, the second delay signal DEL2 a maydetermine the second output point in time t2_2 of the third and fourthtransmission signals TS3 and TS4, and the third delay signal DEL3 a maydetermine the third output point in time t2_3 of the fifth and sixthtransmission signals TS5 and TS6.

A duration of each of activation periods AP1 a to AP3 a of the first tothird delay signals DEL1 a to DEL3 a may be randomly varied in units ofa frame. The duration of each of the activation periods AP1 a to AP3 aof the first to third delay signals DEL1 a to DEL3 a may be varieddepending on the bit information of the delay information illustrated inFIGS. 8A and 8B. When the delay information is composed of 2-bit data,the duration of each of the activation periods APla to AP3 a of thefirst to third delay signals DEL1 a to DEL3 a may be randomly varied tocorrespond to one of four durations. When the delay information iscomposed of 3-bit data, the duration of each of the activation periodsAP1 a to AP3 a of the first to third delay signals DEL1 a to DEL3 a maybe randomly varied to correspond to one of eight durations.

FIG. 11 is a waveform diagram illustrating transmission signalsaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 11 , the panel driver 100C may drive thedisplay panel 100 at a first operating frequency in a first driving modeand may drive the display panel 100 at a second operating frequency in asecond driving mode. The second operating frequency may be lower thanthe first operating frequency. For example, the second operatingfrequency may be a frequency of 15 Hz, 30 Hz, or 48 Hz, and the firstoperating frequency may be a frequency of 60 Hz, 120 Hz, or 240 Hz.Below, an operating mode in which the operating frequency of the displaypanel 100 is variable may be referred to as a “variable frequency mode”.

In the first driving mode, the display panel 100 may display a firstimage (e.g., a video) during a plurality of first frames HDF1 and HDF2.In the second driving mode, the display panel 100 may display a secondimage (e.g., a still image) during a plurality of second frames LDF1 andLDF2. A duration of each of the plurality of second frames LDF1 and LDF2may be greater than a duration of each of the plurality of first framesHDF1 and HDF2.

The sensor controller 200C may drive the input sensor 200. In anembodiment of the present disclosure, an operating frequency of theinput sensor 200 may be identical to an operating frequency of thedisplay panel 100. When the driving mode of the display panel 100switches from the first driving mode to the second driving mode orswitches from the second driving mode to the first driving mode, theoperating frequency of the input sensor 200 may be varied in conjunctionwith the operating frequency of the display panel 100. For example, inthe first driving mode, when the operating frequency of the displaypanel 100 is 120 Hz, the operating frequency of the input sensor 200 mayalso be 120 Hz. In the second driving mode, when the operating frequencyof the display panel 100 is 30 Hz, the operating frequency of the inputsensor 200 may also be 30 Hz.

The first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be randomly (orvaryingly) output (or generated) based on a synchronization signal(e.g., the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync) and the delay signalDEL. Even though the driving mode of the display panel 100 switches fromthe first driving mode to the second driving mode or from the seconddriving mode to the first driving mode, in each frame, an activationperiod of the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync may start from agiven point in time t0. In addition, the delay signal DEL may have thefirst operating frequency in the first driving mode and may have thesecond operating frequency in the second driving mode.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first to sixthtransmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be simultaneously output from thesensor controller 200C at the same point in time. When a point in timewhen the first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 aresimultaneously output is referred to as an output point in time t1, theoutput point in time t1 may be randomly varied based on the activationstart point in time t0 of the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync.

As the output point in time t1 of the first to sixth transmissionsignals TS1 to TS6 are randomly varied based on the activation startpoint in time t0 of the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync, arandom change for the output point in time t1 of the first to sixthtransmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be maintained in conjunction withthe operating frequency of the display panel 100.

The description is given with reference to FIG. 11 as the output pointin time t1 is randomly varied based on the horizontal synchronizationsignal Hsync, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Forexample, the output point in time t1 may be randomly varied based on thevertical synchronization signal Vsync. However, because the horizontalsynchronization signal Hsync interworks with an output point in time ofscan signals, it may be more effective to randomly vary the output pointin time t1 of the transmission signals TS1 to TS6 based on thehorizontal synchronization signal Hsync, rather than the verticalsynchronization signal Vsync, in terms of preventing a flickerphenomenon.

A period by which the output point in time t1 is varied may not belimited to one frame. For example, the output point in time t1 may bevaried with a period of two frames or three frames. In addition, aperiod by which the output point in time t1 is varied may changedepending on a driving mode of the display panel 100.

Only the case where the first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6are output at the output point in time t1 at the same time isillustrated in FIG. 11 , but the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. As illustrated in FIGS. 9A to 10B, the embodiments in which thefirst to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 are output at differentoutput points in time may also be applied to the display device 1000that operates in the variable frequency mode illustrated in FIG. 11 .

FIG. 12A is a waveform diagram illustrating delay signals according toan embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 12B is a waveformdiagram illustrating transmission signals according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 12A, and 128 , the first to sixth transmissionsignals TS1 to TS6 may be randomly (or varyingly) output (or generated)based on a synchronization signal (e.g., the horizontal synchronizationsignal H-sync). Even though the driving mode of the display panel 100switches from the first driving mode to the second driving mode or fromthe second driving mode to the first driving mode, in each frame, anactivation period of the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync maystart from a given point in time to.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, in each frame, the first tosixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be output from the sensorcontroller 200C at different points in time. In each frame, a point intime when the first transmission signal TS1 is output may be referred toas the first output point in time t1_1, a point in time when the secondtransmission signal TS2 is output may be referred to as the secondoutput point in time t1_2, a point in time when the third transmissionsignal TS3 is output may be referred to as the third output point intime t1_3, and so forth. In other words, in each frame, the first tosixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be respectively output at thefirst to sixth output points in time t1_1 to t1_6. At least two of thefirst to sixth output points in time t1_1 to t1_6 may be placed atdifferent points on a time axis.

The sensor controller 200C may generate the first to sixth delay signalsDEL1 to DEL6 for randomly controlling the output points in time t1_1 tot1_6 of the first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 independentlyof each other. Each of the first to sixth delay signals DEL to DEL6 mayhave the first operating frequency in the first driving mode and mayhave the second operating frequency in the second driving mode.

The sensor controller 200C may randomly vary the output point in timet1_1 of the first transmission signal TS1 every frame, based on thefirst delay signal DEL1 and the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync.When the driving mode of the display panel 100 switches from the firstdriving mode to the second driving mode or from the second driving modeto the first driving mode, a frequency of the first delay signal DEL1may also be varied in conjunction therewith. Accordingly, the outputpoint in time t1_1 of the first transmission signal TS1 may also berandomly varied in conjunction with the driving mode of the displaypanel 100. Likewise, because the second to sixth transmission signalsTS2 to TS6 are randomly varied based on the second to sixth delaysignals DEL2 to DEL6, respectively, the output points in time t1_2 tot1_6 of the second to sixth transmission signals TS2 to TS6 may also berandomly varied in conjunction with the driving mode of the displaypanel 100.

FIG. 13A is a waveform diagram illustrating delay signals according toan embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 13B is a waveformdiagram illustrating transmission signals according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 13A, and 13B, at least two of the first to sixthtransmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be output from the sensor controller200C at different points in time. In each frame, the first to sixthtransmission signals TS1 to TS6 may be classified into at least twogroups, and transmission signals belonging to different groups may beoutput at different points in time. In addition, transmission signalsbelonging to the same group may be output at the same point in time.

For example, the first to sixth transmission signals TS1 to TS6 may beclassified into three groups, and each group may include twotransmission signals. In each frame, the first and second transmissionsignals TS1 and TS2 may be output at the first output point in timet2.1, the third and fourth transmission signals TS3 and TS4 may beoutput at the second output point in time t2_2, and the fifth and sixthtransmission signals TS5 and TS6 may be output at the third output pointin time t2_3. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.For example, the first and fourth transmission signals TS1 and TS4 maybe output at the first output point in time t2_I, the second and fifthtransmission signals TS2 and TS5 may be output at the second outputpoint in time t2_2, and the third and sixth transmission signals TS3 andTS6 may be output at the third output point in time t2_3. In addition,the number of transmission signals to be included in each group may bevariously varied. For example, three or four transmission signals may beprovided in each group, or a different number of transmission signalsmay be provided per group.

When the output points in time t2_1 to t2_3 are controlled in units of agroup, the sensor controller 200C may require delay signals (e.g., thefirst, second, and third delay signals DEL1 a, DEL2 a, and DEL3 a), thenumber of which corresponds to the number of groups. In this case, thefirst delay signal DEL1 a may determine the first output point in timet2_1 of the first and second transmission signals TS1 and TS2, thesecond delay signal DEL2 a may determine the second output point in timet2_2 of the third and fourth transmission signals TS3 and TS4, and thethird delay signal DEL3 a may determine the third output point in timet2_3 of the fifth and sixth transmission signals TS5 and TS6.

Each of the first to third delay signals DEL1 a to DEL3 a may have thefirst operating frequency in the first driving mode and may have thesecond operating frequency in the second driving mode.

The sensor controller 200C may randomly vary the output point in timet2_1 of the first and second transmission signals TS1 and TS2 everyframe, based the first delay signal DEL1 a and the horizontalsynchronization signal Hsync. When the driving mode of the display panel100 switches from the first driving mode to the second driving mode orfrom the second driving mode to the first driving mode, a frequency ofthe first delay signal DEL1 a may also be varied in conjunctiontherewith. Accordingly, the output point in time t2_1 of the first andsecond transmission signals TS1 and TS2 may be randomly varied inconjunction with the driving mode of the display panel 100. Likewise,because the third and fourth transmission signals TS3 and TS4 arerandomly varied based on the second delay signal DEL2 a and the fifthand sixth transmission signals TS5 and TS6 are randomly varied based onthe third delay signal DEL3 a, the output points in time t2_2 and t2_3of the third to sixth transmission signals TS3 to TS6 may also berandomly varied in conjunction with the driving mode of the displaypanel 100.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a display devicemay randomly vary output points in time of transmission signals to besupplied to an input sensor based on a synchronization signal, and thus,a noise due to the interference between a display panel and the inputsensor may be prevented from occurring on a screen of the display deviceor may decrease.

In addition, as the output points in time of the transmission signalsare randomly varied, even though a noise occurs, a position at which thenoise occurs may be randomly shifted. When a position at which the noiseoccurs is randomly shifted, the phenomenon that a flicker is viewed by auser's eyes may be prevented, and thus, the display quality of thedisplay device may be increased.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toembodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe art that various changes and modifications may be made theretowithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure asset forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device, comprising: a display panelconfigured to display an image in units of a frame; an input sensordisposed on the display panel, and configured to sense an externalinput; a panel driver configured to control driving of the display panelin response to a synchronization signal; and a sensor controllerconfigured to control driving of the input sensor, wherein the sensorcontroller receives the synchronization signal from the panel driver andoutputs a plurality of transmission signals to the input sensor, and theplurality of transmission signals are varyingly generated based on thesynchronization signal.
 2. The display device of claim 1, wherein theplurality of transmission signals are output from the sensor controllerat an output point in time, and wherein a time interval between anactivation start point in time of the synchronization signal and theoutput point in time is varied.
 3. The display device of claim 2,wherein the time interval is randomly varied in units of at least oneframe.
 4. The display device of claim 2, wherein the sensor controllerrandomly varies the output point in time based on a delay signal.
 5. Thedisplay device of claim 4, wherein the sensor controller outputs theplurality of transmission signals at the output point in time which isdelayed with respect to the activation start point in time of thesynchronization signal by as much as an activation period of the delaysignal.
 6. The display device of claim 5, wherein duration of theactivation period of the delay signal is varied within a predeterminedrange in units of at least one frame.
 7. The display device of claim 2,wherein a first transmission signal and a second transmission signal ofthe plurality of transmission signals are output from the sensorcontroller at different points in time.
 8. The display device of claim7, wherein a time interval between the activation start point in time ofthe synchronization signal and a first output point in time of the firsttransmission signal is randomly varied, and wherein a time intervalbetween the activation start point in time of the synchronization signaland a second output point in time of the second transmission signal israndomly varied.
 9. The display device of claim 8, wherein the sensorcontroller determines output points in time of the plurality oftransmission signals based on a plurality of delay signals.
 10. Thedisplay device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of delay signalsinclude: a first delay signal for determining the first output point intime of the first transmission signal; and a second delay signal fordetermining the second output point in time of the second transmissionsignal, and wherein the sensor controller outputs the first transmissionsignal at the first output point in time which is delayed with respectto the activation start point in time of the synchronization signal byas much as an activation period of the first delay signal and outputsthe second transmission signal at the second output point in time whichis delayed with respect to the activation start point in time of thesynchronization signal by as much as an activation period of the seconddelay signal.
 11. The display device of claim 10, wherein a duration ofthe activation period of the first delay signal is varied within apredetermined range in units of at least one frame, and wherein aduration of the activation period of the second delay signal is variedwithin the predetermined range in units of at least one frame.
 12. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal includes:a vertical synchronization signal for determining a period of the frame;and a horizontal synchronization signal for determining a scan timing ofthe display panel in the frame.
 13. The display device of claim 1,wherein an operating frequency of the display panel is identical to anoperating frequency of the input sensor.
 14. The display device of claim1, wherein the input sensor includes: transmission electrodes forreceiving the transmission signals; and reception electrodes insulatedfrom the transmission electrodes and intersecting the transmissionelectrodes.
 15. The display device of claim 14, wherein the displaypanel includes scan lines for sequentially receiving a scan signalduring the frame, and wherein the transmission electrodes extend alongthe scan lines.
 16. The display device of claim 1, wherein the displaypanel includes: a light-emitting element layer including alight-emitting element; and an encapsulation layer disposed on thelight-emitting element layer.
 17. The display device of claim 16,wherein the input sensor is directly disposed on the encapsulationlayer.
 18. A display device, comprising: a display panel configured todisplay an image in units of a frame; an input sensor disposed on thedisplay panel, and configured to sense an external input; a panel driverconfigured to control driving of the display panel in response to avertical synchronization signal for determining a period of the frameand a horizontal synchronization signal for determining a scan timing ofthe display panel; and a sensor controller configured to control drivingof the input sensor, wherein the sensor controller receives thehorizontal synchronization signal from the panel driver and outputs aplurality of transmission signals to the input sensor, and the pluralityof transmission signals are varied based on the horizontalsynchronization signal.
 19. The display device of claim 18, wherein theplurality of transmission signals are output from the sensor controllerat an output point in time, and wherein a time interval between anactivation start point in time of the horizontal synchronization signaland the output point in time is varied.
 20. The display device of claim19, wherein the time interval is randomly varied in units of at leastone frame.